Finger-support for stringed instruments.



W. H. S. NELSON.

FINGER SUPPORT FOB. STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.4,1910,

1,01 7,448. Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

fflr I mizaala zaizszJ-m (=93 W. H. S. NELSON. FINGER SUPPORT FOR s'mmsnn INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION TILED MABA, 1910.

1 ,0 1 7,448. Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

duration on any dolins or similar sometimes one or more FINGER-SUPPORT FOR STBING'ED INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters latent. Patented Feb. 13, 1Q] 2,

Application filed March 4, 1910. serial No. 547,818.

sired on the instrument to enable the player to apply all, or one or "more, of the second, third, and fourth fingers of the right hand To all whpm itmayooncem:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. S. NET: SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Capon S rings, in the county of Hemp upon said guide with light ressur'eand shire and S t ate of West Virginia, have inmovemcnt 89 that the playing gers, or the vented new and useful Improvements in thumb and index fin er of the hand will be maintained at a uni orm distance above all the springs in accordance with predeten mination to properly pick or strike the strin s of the instrument with a plectrum' held etween the said playing fingers. It is proposedto construct the idle in various forms andposition it at di erentdistances forward of-the bridge so as to enable the eriormer to bringout various quantities and qualities of tone.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a topplan view of a portion of amandolin showing the improved guide attachment in one form ap' plied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of "a portion of amandolin with the guide at of playing, though 5 proved and taught, tachment applied thereto. Fig.3 is a-diahas many objectionab e features, and esgrammatic view showing the mode of using pecially for the beginner and amateur, and the attachment. Fi 4 shows a portion of be mena mandolin in top p an view in dotted lines amen these disadvanta es may tione the following: ifiiculty for any and-a plurahty of the attachments posiplayer except an expert to execute a smooth, regular tremolo on a note of even short dunation on the G-string; difiiculty for any player except an expert to execute a smooth, regular tremolo on a note of several bars string; fatigue and cramp due to unnatural curved position of the wrist and hand, which any fplayer not an expert or in good form su ers when playing for any considerable length of time; an deface mcnt oi the instrument by the fingers resting on the top-board and-particular y by a beginner or one who has not mastered the proper hand positions and finger movements. The primary object of the invention is to avoid the foregoing objectionable features in the present mode of playing a 'm'andolin or similar stringed instrument, and to readily and naturally position the hand of the player so that while the 5 rings can be picked with ease and facility he plectrum ma. at all times, unless otherwise desired, be into regular and'. equal. contact w th the strings of the instrumerit and at any point desired forward of the bridge. I

The invention involves, for any ordinary mandolin or, similar instrument, a ban guide adapted to be positioned asmay be de- Fin er-Su )ports for Stringed Instruments, of w ich e following is a specification. This invention relates to a guide-attachment for mandolins orsimilar stringed instruments. v p a It hasbecn customary for players of manstringed instruments while to position the right hand the tail-piece'and fingers on the top board. of the instrument at such point as to permit the. periormer to pic with a. plectrum held between the thumb and forefinger, the strings of said instrument at any desired distance forward of the bridge. This mode executing music, by resting the must on.

vance of the bridge to obtain various quanta ties and qualities of tone. Fig. 5 is a detail. perspective view of one form of the attach; ment. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section through a portion, of the mandolin showing another form of the attachment applied over the fret-board, close to the juncture oi: the neck with the mandolin. ig. 7 is..a view similar to Fig. '6 showing. a modification of the attachment as illustrated by the latter figure, Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the attachment arranged forapplicationto'the bridge of the instrument. I

The numeral 5- desi nates a mandolin which embodies-the usua tog board 7, sound hole 8, bri go 9, and tailpiece 10.

A mandolin is shown in the accompanying drawings to demonstrate the practical use of the attachmenh but it will be understood that the attachment is adapted to-be applied to any other stringed instrument which is playedby a 'plectrum or similar device.

The attachment consists ofa guide 11 having legs 12 which are applied either to the rear portion. of the. sound hole 8, the

tioned'thereon at different distances in adfront portion of said sound hole, to diiferentto conveniently support the hand and fingers arts of the finger board 'Z,v or to the to facilitate action of the thumb, and toreridge 9. e finger holding the plectrum and without tir- The form of the attachment illustrated by ing the performer and insuring a regular 5 Figs. 1, 2 and 3 has the legs 12 terminally and positive engagement of the strings to 70 shaped to clamp over the rear portion of the eiiect a perfect tremolo and avoid a miss sound hole 8 and the guide is positioned bepick. tween the bridge 9 and said sound hole. As shown by Fig. 3, the preferred 051- As shown b Fig. 4, the guide has its legs tion. of the hand will be with the na11 o the 10 12 shaped and proportioned to engage the second finger resting lightly on the gulde 11 5 4 front'wall of the sound hole 8 to locate the and in this position the hand will be mov said guide in advance of the sound hole. over theguidre transversely with relation to As shown by Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the guide the strings so as to maintain a uniform demay be applied over the neck at any pomt pression or engagement of the point of the on the latter and as illustrated by Fig. 8 plectrum with the strings.

the legs 12 of the guide are bent as at 13 to From the fore 0mg 1t will-be understood fit over the bridge 9'. a that the essenti feature of the invention In all the forms of the attachment except involves the use of a guide for the transverse that illustrated by Fig. 7,'the resiliency of movement of the hand of the performer the legs 12 is relied upon to maintain the relatively to the strings of the instrument attachment in applied position, and,furtherand to secure a uniformity of depression more, it will be observed that the legs will of the plectrum relatively to the strings to be made'long or short in accordance with effect a perfect trem'olo of either lung or the art of the instrument to which they'are short duration without tiring the per- 25 app ied and the'desirable position of the former. ,gg guide. It is proposed to construct the uide By means of the guide, a performer, and entirely of metal hi hly polished or p ated, partlcularl a beginner or one who is not an or the guide may e of wood with metal expert, w'l have 1115 hand unconsciously le S, or metal covered with wood, or any trained in the correct position relatively to so .0 er suitable material. the strings without the tiresome and ofttnnes To prevent abrasion of or injury to the painful conditions resulting from the orditop board 6 and other parts of the instrw nary methods adopted by instructors. ment. engaged by the legs the latter are The-attachmentis also exceptionally adpadded or had as at 14 with a suitable fabvuntu one in assisting in strengthening a 85 ric or buflin material. In the modification weak and or fingers, a condition often enshown by g. 7, the l 12 are drawn countered and resulting in considerable disagainst the op ositc side e of the finger couragemont to the be inner. board 7 by a c mping screw rod 15 extend- The attachment is a so a valuable accesing through the legs 12 beneath the strings sory for performers generally in playing a 40 of the instrument and provided with amilled mandolin or analogous instrument for long head 16 at one extremity. In the finger eriods of time as a means for easing the board engaging form of t e guide as shown and. p by Fig. 6, t e egs 12 will have suflicient re- Changes in the proportions, dimensions siliency to spring over and tightly hold the and minor details may be adopted at will 45 attachment with relation to the opposite to accommodate various applications of the no side ed es of the finger board, and the ends attachment. of the eggs bear upon the adjacent portions What is claimed is: of the top board when the attachment is 1. The combination with a musical applied over the finger board extending stringed instrument of the mandolin type 50 toward the sound holeand in engagement having a sound opening, of a support ex-. with the top board. tending transversely over all of the strings The guide 11 or the main element of the of the instrument and having a straight flat attachment extends transversely across the surface parallel with the strings with which strings and at such distance above the latter one or more fingers of the hand holding the 55 as to be reliable in performing its function. ilectrum movably engage, the support hav- One of more of the attachments may be mg terminal attaching means detachably used at the same time in different positions engagin a part of the body of the instruover the strings and in rear and in advance ment, t e strings of the instrument being of the sound hole to enable a performer to exposed both in front and in rear of the 60 bring out or obtain various quantities and support and the latter being out of con qualities of tone. tact with all of the strings.

As hereinbefore explained, the performer 2. The combination I with a musical may rest all, or one or more, of the second, stringed instrument of the mandolin type, of third, and fourth fingers of the right hand a flat support extending transversely over 65 upon the guide with a light pressure so as and paral e1 to and out of contact with all of the strings and having terminal attach ing means detachably engaging a portion of the body of the instrument and shiftable from one position to another on the instrument body.

3. The combination with a musical strin ed instrument of the mandolin type and avinfi a SOIil'lCi' openin of a, flat support'detac ably held on the ody of the instrument and extendin over and parallel withall of the strings o the instrument and freely movable to different positions on the instrument body and serving to maintain one or more fingers .of the hand holding the plectrum in proper position to produce tremolo efl'ects.

4. The combination with a inusical stringed instrument of the mandolin type of a plurality of separated supports extending transversely over all of the strings and resting on the body of the instrument to be enga ed by one or more fingers of the hand 0 ding the pleetrum during various move-' ments in playin the strings, the said supports being para el and out of contact with the strings and the one support being in 5. The combination with a musical stringed instrument of the mandolin type having a souhd'hole, of supports extending transversely over and out of contact with all of the strings, said supports being located at different places along the length of the strings for movable enga ement by a portion of the fingers of the and of the performer to reduce uniformity of movement of the n are and regularity of depression of the p eotrum and to obtain variations in volume and changing the position 0 su port to another.

n testimony whereof I'have hereuntoset my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. S. NELSON.

the hand from one Witnesses:

CHAS. F. Nnnson, W. F. Gone.

uality' of tones by; 

